LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council will hold a special Tuesday meeting to discuss a contract amendment regarding retirement benefits for the city’s police officers.

The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 26, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

An ordinance authorizing an amendment to the contract between the Lakeport City Council and the Board of Administration of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System will be introduced at the Tuesday meeting.

At its meeting June 19, the council approved a resolution of intention to approve the amendment regarding the Lakeport Police Officers Association.

In 2006 the council agreed to a 3 percent at age 50 formula for officers after the officers gave concessions, including giving up 1 percent a year in salary increases for several years.

The 3 percent at 50 formula gives officers the ability to retire, starting at age 50, with a benefit value of 3 percent for every year of service.

However, the council in 2010 refused to take the final steps to finalize the retirement changes and the Lakeport Police Officers Association sued the city last year.

As the result of negotiations with the association for a new memorandum of understanding and as part of the lawsuit’s tentative settlement agreement, the city is proposing a 3 percent at age 55 retirement formula.

The current retirement package for the city’s safety officers is 2 percent at 50, according to City Manager Margaret Silveira’s report to the council.

The city’s annual contribution rate to police retirement will go up from 34 percent to 39 percent, rising from $205,772 under the 2 percent at 50 to $235,350 under 3 percent at 55, or a $29,588 increase for the 2012-13 fiscal year, according to Silveira’s report.

If approved, the ordinance’s second reading will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 17.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .